Pope Leo XIV is set to undergo surgery in the coming days after doctors discovered a small nodule on his lung, with the pontiff revealing that the growth had been detected at a very early stage.
The 71-year-old Catholic leader announced the planned operation during his weekly Angelus address in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, saying he had decided to proceed with the surgery following medical advice.
“During recent medical checks, a nodule on my lung was found. It has been detected at a very early stage and is very localised,” the Pope said.
He added that doctors had recommended removing the growth and that arrangements for the operation had already been made.
“The doctors believe it would be right to intervene and so, following their advice, I have decided to have the operation to remove it. The operation is already planned in the coming days,” he said.
The Vatican press office later confirmed that the surgery was expected to take place at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, a medical facility that has treated several popes, including Pope John Paul II.
The pontiff is expected to require approximately one week to recover from the procedure, although the Vatican has not provided further details about the nature of the lung nodule.
It also remains unclear whether the operation and recovery period will affect his scheduled international visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
News of the planned surgery prompted messages of support and prayers from political leaders, Catholic officials and believers across the world.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the calmness with which the Pope addressed the development during his Angelus prayer had offered reassurance.
She expressed her personal support and that of the Italian government as the pontiff prepares for the operation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also wished the Pope a successful surgery and a swift, full recovery.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with him, and we hope he will soon be back in good health and strength,” Zelensky wrote on X.
In Peru, where the Pope is expected to visit next month, believers expressed hope that he would recover in time for the planned trip.
Olga Pol, 62, said she hoped the pontiff would receive the necessary medical care and regain his strength, adding that people in Peru were eagerly awaiting his arrival.
Retired journalist Diana Celi said many Peruvians were praying for the Pope and hoping he would recover in time for the visit, for which preparations had been underway for several months.
Archbishop Daniel Sturla of Montevideo also called on Catholics to pray for the Pope’s speedy recovery while encouraging continued preparations for his planned visit to Uruguay.
Argentina’s bishops’ conference similarly urged believers to join in special prayers ahead of the operation, expressing hope that it would go well and that the pontiff would make a full recovery.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, became the first American to lead the Catholic Church following his election on May 8, 2025, after the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025.
Since assuming leadership of the world’s approximately 1.4 billion Catholics, Leo has gradually established his own leadership style while addressing major global concerns, including armed conflicts and the implications of artificial intelligence.
He has also emerged as a vocal critic of the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, urging leaders to pursue peace and condemning threats to destroy Iran as unacceptable.
The planned surgery comes as the Pope continues his responsibilities as head of the Catholic Church, with the Vatican yet to announce whether his recovery will require changes to his upcoming schedule.
For now, the focus remains on the medical procedure, with Catholics and other well-wishers around the world expressing hope for a successful operation and a smooth recovery.